Tag Archives: Heaven and Hell

Eagle Rock Entertainment has announced the details for its latest release.

Dio: Live in London – Hammersmith Apollo 1993 will be available for the first time ever on Tuesday, May 13th. The archived concert will be made available to audiences on DVD, SD Blu-ray, 2CD and digital formats. Audiences can get a sneak peek at what can be expected from this long-awaited release online now via YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEFcFGJBQzA&list=UUp0uxdUViQ2LTAqRePby68g.

The upcoming release captures the final performance of Dio’s European tour in support of the band’s album Strange Highways. Dio was joined by band mates Vinny Appice (drums), Jeff Pilson (bass), Tracy G (guitar), and Scott Warren (keyboards) for the tour. The show covers Dio’s body of work from his days with Black Sabbath, Rainbow, and even in his own band. Those hits include: ‘Holy Diver’, ‘Rainbow in the Dark’, ‘Strange Highways’, ‘Stand Up An Shout’, ‘Man On The Silver Mountain’, ‘Heaven And Hell’, and ‘We Rock’ among others. The performance is presented in DTS Surround Sound, Dolby Digital 5.1, and Dolby Digital. The full track listing for the recording is listed below.

TRACK LISTING:

1) Stand Up And Shout

2) Strange Highways

3) Don’t Talk To Strangers

4) Evilution

5) Pain

6) The Mob Rules

7) Children Of The Sea

8) Holy Diver

9) Heaven And Hell

10) Man On The Silver Mountain

11) Drum Solo

12) Heaven And Hell (reprise)

13) Jesus, Mary & The Holy Ghost

14) Hollywood Black

15) The Last In Line

16) Rainbow In The Dark

17) We Rock

18) Here’s To You

As an added bonus for audiences, the DVD and SD Blu-ray presentations offer a special Behind-The-Scenes feature titled ‘Hangin’ With The Band.’

Hard rock supergroup Kill Devil Hill is hitting the road in support of its second full length studio release, Revolution Rise. The band—Rex Brown (bass), Vinny Appice (drums), Dewey Bragg (vocals), Mark Zavon (guitar)–kicks off its Fall/Winter tour Saturday, October 26th in Ramona, California. The kickoff comes only three days before the official release of the band’s new record, which will be released via Century Media Records. The majority of the band’s tour will take the band down the west coast and into the Southwest. However, the last six current dates on the band’s itinerary will take the band into the Midwest. A full listing of the band’s most current tour dates is available below.

Concept albums are typically reserved for the realm of rock music that is progressive rock. Bands the likes of Pink Floyd, Dream Theater, and The Flower Kings have been largely linked to concept albums through rock’s history. Apparently during his lifetime, nobody had sent this message to rock icon Ronnie James Dio; either that or he got the message and didn’t care. Regardless of which argument holds more truth, the ultimate truth is that Dio proved that commonly held belief to be entirely untrue with the release of his groundbreaking album, Magica. Now thanks to Niji Entertainment, Dio’s ever growing legion of fans can experience this work once more.

Over a decade has passed since Magica was originally released on Spitfire Records. And three years have now passed since the world lost Ronnie James Dio. In the time since RJD’s passing, a lot has changed in the music industry. Thankfully, Niji Entertainment has re-issued this landmark album and reminded audiences that it is still possible for rock to be more than down-tuned guitars and indecipherable cookie monster growls. It is a true treat for Dio fans of all ages. The album’s new deluxe re-issue offers the original story of Magicka completely restored and sounding as good as ever. The soaring string instrumentations that accompany the band add a beautiful counterpart to the band’s heaviness throughout the record. And Dio’s vocals were in prime form on this record, as long-time fans will attest.

The primary disc’s re-issue is outstanding to say the least. But the real treat of Magica is the deluxe edition’s bonus disc. The bonus disc is anchored by RJD himself reading ‘The Magica Story.’ Instead of the full on rock opera that is Magica audiences get Dio serving as storyteller. The style with which he reads the story leaves listeners hanging on his every word. It conjures thoughts of Trans Siberian Orchestra. And being that this legendary singer is sadly no longer with us, hearing him personally reading the story is a wonderful memorial to Dio’s memory. And since the story is printed out in the booklet included with the re-issue, they can even follow along as he reads the story verbatim. There are no attempts at bad voices or any other over the top moves. It is just RJD with a calm music bed as he reads the story. The manner in which he recites the story’s final lines is wonderful. He is about to start the next story but instantly cuts himself off, laughing as he says, “That’s another story.” It makes the whole experience of listening to this record more personal for lack of better wording. It is just part of what makes the re-issue’s second disc a true bonus. For that matter, it makes one wonder what Magic 2 and 3 would have sounded like. Luckily, listeners get a hint of that on the bonus track, ‘Electra’ that is also included on this re-issue.

The reading of ‘The Magica’ Story by Ronnie James Dio himself is a wonderful continuation from the musical story contained on the re-issue’s main disc. The included bonus tracks and live bootlegs make the second disc even more of a bonus. Considering that they are called “bootlegs”, the term bootleg should be taken very lightly. This is a good thing in this case. That is because the audio quality of the live “bootlegs” here far exceeds that of what one would think when one thinks of the term, “bootleg.” The bonus studio tracks complete the package, musically speaking. ‘Electra’ gives a pretty good hint at the later story that Dio references in this story. It makes one wonder if he perhaps had some manuscripts tucked away somewhere that as is the case with certain late authors have yet to see the light of day. It’s a nice heavy piece that continues the style established in Magica. ‘Annica’ is equally intriguing in that it bears what some could argue to be Pink Floyd influences, in terms of the guitar parts. That in itself is enough to make for even more discussion. And it is that discussion that helps to make this record’s re-issue an even more completely enjoyable listen that will grow with each listen. The record is available in stores and online now.

It goes without saying after having listened to it that Black Sabbath’s 13 is one of the best hard rock/metal albums of 2013. This record has been decades in the making. And the wait was well worth it, even with someone other than Bill Ward on drums. Ozzy’s vocals and Tony Iommi’s guitar work are at their peak throughout this record. So many rock bands have tried hard to emulate Sabbath’s sound since its breakup so long ago. But few if any have managed to come close since then. So it is nice to have one of rock’s elite back (even if one member isn’t present) to reclaim its proper place in rock’s upper echelons.

Right from the opening moments of the album’s opener, ‘End of the Beginning’, listeners know they are in for something special on this record. Geezer’s bass and Tony’s guitar work are pummeling along with Brad Wilk (Rage Against The Machine) on drums in the song’s opening moments before laying back to let Ozzy’s haunting vocals take the spotlight. Rick Rubin actually made the right choice bringing in Wilk to cover the drums in place of Bill Ward for this record. When the rest of the band comes back in, the combined wound will take audiences back to Black Sabbath’s glory days. Ozzy, Tony, and Geezer show that they are still the originators and have not lost a single step along the way. It’s like old times. As Ozzy sings here, “Don’t look back/Live for today/Tomorrow is too late.” It couldn’t have been better said considering this band’s history.

13 offers listeners plenty of heaviness. For all the heavy moments, worthy of raising the horns high, it also has a more subdued moment in the song, ‘Zeitgeist.’ This is such an interesting song in that it is a full-on acoustic opus. In lieu of drums, Wilk has opted instead for perhaps a pair of bongos. And Tony and Geezer have both gone acoustic, too. There is something about this combination (along with Ozzy’s vocals) that makes for a work that could easily be compared to the likes Pink Floyd, believe it or not. It is also the album’s shortest track. It clocks in at just over four and a half minutes long. In that short time, it makes for one of the album’s most interesting moments.

If any one song on this new album stands out more than the others, it is ‘Live Forever.’ This is the second shortest song on the record. It comes in at just under five minutes long. It’s also one of the album’s heaviest numbers. Yet again, it’s more proof that Ozzy and company haven’t lost any steam in the three decades plus since the band’s last album. Of course, having mega-producer Rick Rubin manning the boards doesn’t hurt, either. Rubin really brought out the best of the band on this track. Tony’s guitar solos are incredible to say the least. They are the sort of solos that will have young guitarists around the world trying to emulate him, putting their own takes on his work on YouTube. And yet again, Brad Wilk is just as impressive behind the kit. He shows here, and throughout the record just how versatile he is as a drummer, pounding out some impressive polyrhythmic patters without missing a second. And Ozzy sounds more in control of his vocals here than anywhere else on the album. That isn’t to say that he sounds bad anywhere else. The way that Ozzy laments in this song, “I don’t mind dying/Cause I’m already dead/Pray not for the living/I live in your head/Dying is easy/It’s living that’s hard/I’m losing the battle/Between Satan and God” could so easily be interpreted in direct relation to everything that Ozzy has gone through in recent years. Considering recent reports concerning his admission to having been addicted to certain substances over recent years, instead of staying clean, it sounds like a personal statement that he perhaps felt during that time. If so, it’s a powerful statement, especially with the song’s musical backing. Though interestingly enough, the rest of the song sounds like a tongue in cheek stab at the religious establishment, considering Ozzy is actually anything but the “Prince of Darkness” that he has been made out to be.

‘Live Forever’ is one of the best of the best on Black Sabbath’s new album, 13. It musical side and lyrical side together make it quite the interesting track. Though, it’s just one of eight total tracks on the band’s new album that any long-time Black Sabbath fan will enjoy. There are seven other tracks on this disc that any true metal and hard rock purist from which they can choose as their favorite. The album will be available in stores and online June 11th via Republic Records. The band will tour in support of the album beginning July 25th in The Woodlands, Texas. Fans can keep up with the band’s tour dates and more on its official Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/BlackSabbath and on its official website, http://www.blacksabbath.com.

The hatchet has largely been buried between the members of veteran hard rock band Black Sabbath. After over three decades of waiting, fans of this groundbreaking band will finally get to hear new music from the band this Summer. And in support of the new album, titled 13, Black Sabbath—Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, and Geezer Butler—will hit the road in support of the album with a full North American tour. Drummer Bill Ward will be replaced on the band’s upcoming tour with a replacement drummer. Tickets for the band’s upcoming tour will be available Friday, May 3rd. Fans can get early access to the pre-sale tickets on May 2nd when they RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/147056262140133/?context=create or at http://bit.ly/Sabbath_RSVP.

The band’s upcoming North American tour begins Thursday, July 25th at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in Houston, TX. It spans nineteen dates that will take the band from the East Coast to the West and even into Canada. The full list of tour dates is available below.

DATECITYVENUE

+Thu- Jul 25 Houston, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

+Sat-Jul 27 Austin, TX Frank Erwin Center

<Mon-Jul 29 Tampa, FL Live Nation Amphitheatre

+Wed-Jul 31 W. Palm Beach, FL Cruzan Amphitheatre

~Fri-Aug 02 Bristow, VA Jiffy Lube Live

*Sun-Aug 04 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center

+Tue-Aug 06 Detroit, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre

+Thu-Aug 08 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena

+Sat-Aug 10 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center

^Mon-Aug 12 Boston, MA Comcast Center

*Wed-Aug 14 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre

+Fri Aug 16 Tinley Park, IL First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre

+Sun-Aug 18 Indianapolis, IN Klipsch Music Center

+Thu-Aug 22 Vancouver, BC Rogers Arena

*Sat-Aug 24 Seattle, WA Gorge Amphitheatre

+Mon-Aug 26 San Francisco, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre at Mountain View

+Wed-Aug 28 Irvine, CA Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre

+Fri-Aug 30 Phoenix, AZ US Airways Center

+Sun-Sep 01 Las Vegas, NV MGM Grand Garden Arena

*Tue-Sep 03 Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles Sports Arena

*Previously announced date.

^On sale Friday, May 3

+On sale Saturday, May 4

~On sale, Friday May 10

<On sale, Saturday, May 11

>On sale TBD

Before the band hits the road and the album hits stores, fans can get a glimpse of what is to come now. The band has released 13’s lead single, ‘God is Dead?’, and fans can check it out now on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVfUimq2KeI.